Leaning on the broom, Jan gazed in dismay at the slashed upholstery. An acrid smell permeated everything. How could two small animals cause so much damage in such a short time?
The descending staircase thudded with the angry stomp of masculine footsteps. As if things weren’t bad enough, here came the landlord.
* * *
AT ELEVEN O’CLOCK, AFTER dropping Berry at her friend’s party, Zack arrived to find Jan’s door standing open. Inside, the scent of lemon cleaner failed to mask an unpleasant animal odor.
As he knocked on the frame, he saw that furniture had been shoved to one side and cushions piled by the door. What had happened here?
A frazzled Jan hurried toward him. In stark contrast to her usual careful grooming, she’d tied her hair crookedly in a ponytail and wore an oversize T-shirt.
“Cat fight,” she said before he could ask, and heaved a couple of deep breaths. “Oh, Zack...”
“Tell me.” As he entered, he resisted an urge to put his arms around her. “Is Kimmie okay?”
“Yes. She’s in her room, which is one of the few places still intact.” Her hands fluttered in agitation as she described how the little girl had tried to rescue Gorilla and instead allowed a pair of furious tomcats to trash their living room. “As if that weren’t bad enough, the landlord’s throwing us out. Immediately.”
“He can’t. It isn’t even your cat.”
“He says we violated our lease. Kimmie was bringing the cat inside.”
About to suggest they fight the eviction, Zack realized it might be more trouble and expense than the apartment was worth. “He has to give you thirty days’ notice.”
“Maybe, but that doesn’t change the fact that this place is unsanitary.” Jan indicated the stained carpet in disgust. “I’ve done my best to clean up so we can spend a few nights in our rooms, but Mr. Withers says the walls have to be repainted and the carpets cleaned or possibly replaced. According to him, it may cost several thousand dollars and I’m responsible.”
If the landlord had to replace the carpet, that would be steep. “Since you’re paying, why can’t you move back in afterward?”
“He wants us gone.” Jan’s shoulders sagged. “He said he’d pay half the cost if we move out within three days.”
“And that’s okay with you?” Zack was willing to help her fight this if she needed more time.
Another sigh. “Half the cost could be significant.”
“Be sure he gives you itemized receipts.”
“I will.” Jan sounded uncharacteristically defeated. “I was just getting the place fixed up and now I have to find a new one.”
Surely Safe Harbor had vacancies. “That shouldn’t be too difficult.”
“As long as we’re moving, we need a place that allows pets,” she said.
“You’re sure about that?” Zack eyed the ruined cushions.
“If Kimmie had her own cat, she wouldn’t be collecting strays.”
To him that bordered on rewarding the girl for breaking rules. Still, he’d seen enough strong-willed behavior from Berry recently to understand the value of compromise.
“My mom says we can stay with her for a while,” Jan continued. “I won’t have to find storage, since a lot of the furniture has to be thrown out and we can pile the rest in her garage. But her dog hates cats, so it’s goodbye, Gorilla. Not that I have any idea where he is.”
“Need help moving?” Zack sometimes assisted friends from church. A pickup truck, a few strong backs and a couple of trips usually sufficed.
“That’s very kind, but unnecessary.” She stretched her neck, which must be cramped from the cleaning. Zack wished he could run his hands across her sore muscles, massaging the knots and relieving her tension. “I’ve hired a moving van for Monday evening. We’ll pack tomorrow. Good thing I saved our cardboard boxes in the carport storage space.”
Zack admired her efficiency, as well as her calm response to this crisis. Well, he had only a few hours before picking up Berry. “I should get Kimmie. Is she under any punishment I should know about?”
“I suppose...” She blinked away whatever she’d started to say. “No, having to move and give up her cat seems hard enough. I think she’s learned a lesson. That’s the point of punishment, isn’t it?”
Zack had never thought of it, but then, he’d raised such a compliant child that discipline was rarely required. “I suppose it is.”
“I’ll get her.” Jan vanished into the hall.
Zack wondered how he would react to an incident like this. His instincts called for serious repercussions, but how much was enough?
A long-ago episode popped into his mind. At six or seven, Zack had used permanent markers that bled through the paper onto an unprotected table. The memory of the spanking stung, but even worse was his father’s rage. His dad had confiscated the money Zack had saved from Christmas gifts to help pay for refinishing.
After that, Zack had taken great care with the furniture. He’d also begun to mistrust his father emotionally. The lesson he’d learned from an overly harsh penalty had gone far beyond the one his father intended.
A moment later, the sight of Kimmie’s tear-streaked face showed she was already suffering consequences. “You might want to wash up before we go,” Zack said gently. “So we don’t make the animals sad.”
“Oh!” She raised a hand to her damp cheek. “Okay.” And hurried to the bathroom.
“You’re good with her,” Jan said quietly.
So are you. But he couldn’t bring himself to say the words aloud.
Water splashed, and a moment later Kimmie emerged, ready to go. Zack turned to Jan. “We’ll see you later.”
“Enjoy the animals. I’ll be searching the internet for a new place.”
He left with his daughter skipping ahead. Between two buildings, Zack thought he spotted a gray-and-white feline peering at them wistfully, but when he looked again, it was gone.
* * *
THE OAHU LANE SHELTER occupied a rambling building in a complex that included several auto-repair shops. Zack and Kimmie joined a stream of patrons passing below a Pet Adoption Day banner and into the facility. Excited barking and some anxious mewing drifted from the interior.
A wall sign advertised low-cost spay and neuter services, as well as microchipping to recover lost pets. “We could get Gorilla fixed here,” Zack said. “This might be a good place to bring Smidge, too.”
He and Berry had read on a website that it was important to get her spayed by the age of six months. He wished he knew exactly how old she was—he made a mental note to take her to a vet soon to learn her age and get her shots.
“Okay.” Kimmie scuffed the cement floor with her tennis shoes.
Zack didn’t push her to show enthusiasm for their visit. Instead, he asked, “You worried about moving?”
“We have to stay with Grandma and Wiener hates cats.” That must be the dog.
“I see.”
“Please sign in over here.” A freckled teenage boy directed them to a clipboard on the front counter. “Are you looking for any specific type of animal?”
“We like cats,” Zack answered as he got in line to register.
“There’s a twenty-five percent discount on adoption fees today. That includes spay-neuter and microchipping,” he said. “We’ll be starting a tour soon.”
“Great. Thanks.”
A short while later a young woman came to guide them. When
Zack inquired about the spay-neuter program, she informed him the surgeries were performed at a regional center with volunteer veterinarians. “We just house them here temporarily and transport them.”
“That’s a good service.”
“We do the best we can on a shoestring.”
Kimmie brightened at the sight of cages full of cats. “They’re so cute! How can people give them up?”
Zack didn’t have an answer. He hadn’t intended to adopt Smidge, but already she’d become part of the family.
While Kimmie oohed and aahed over a bunch of fluffy kittens, he saw a few of his patients among the visitors. They greeted him warmly and said hello to his daughter. None of them had met Berry, so he was spared from making explanations.
Zack also recognized one of his neighbors, an energetic woman in her seventies whom he often saw walking her dogs. She wore the blue blazer that served as a uniform for shelter employees. “You work here?” he said.
She thrust out her hand and they shook. “I’m Ilsa Ivy.”
“I’m Zack Sargent, and this is Kimmie.” He noted her name tag. “You’re the director.”
“That’s me.”
“You get to play with animals every day?” Kimmie asked in awe.
Ilsa chuckled. “I wish I had time to do more of that. Mostly I’m busy fund-raising.” She indicated a sign proclaiming a campaign to upgrade the facilities. “Thanks to adoption fees and people’s generosity, we’re able to meet our operating expenses. Unfortunately, our plumbing and air-conditioning systems need replacing to the tune of twenty thousand dollars. Otherwise the city is threatening to pull our permit.”
“I’ll certainly make a donation.” Zack reached for his wallet. “Do you take credit cards?”
“Yes, on our website,” Ilsa responded, and gave him a card with the address. “We and the animals appreciate anything you can do.” With a friendly nod she went off to speak to another family.
Zack tucked the card into his wallet. He’d make the donation today.
“Twenty thousand dollars is a lot of money,” Kimmie said dejectedly.
“Yes, it is.” His gift wouldn’t go far, but he supposed every contribution helped. “Hungry?”
“Yes.” His daughter appeared deep in thought as they crossed the parking lot. Abruptly, she said, “What if someone brings Gorilla here? They might run out of money and have to kill him.”
“I don’t think that’s likely.”
She gave a little hop. “I know how we can keep him!”
“How?” Zack beeped to unlock his car.
“We could move in with you!”
He supposed he should have seen that coming. Instead, he felt blindsided.
“Uh...” Zack replied.
* * *
“I THOUGHT I SHOULD explain.” Zack’s voice sent a tingle down Jan’s spine.
Surprised by her instinctive reaction to him, she closed her computer file and swung her desk chair to face him. The fact that she left her office door open for visitors, combined with the usual midafternoon hospital bustle, must be the reason she hadn’t heard his approach. Also the details of tonight’s move kept tumbling through her brain.
The sight of his masculine body standing in the doorway provided a new distraction. “Explain what?”
“We didn’t have a chance to talk when I brought her back on Saturday.” Jan had been on the phone with a moving company. “Kimmie’s probably explained that she suggested staying with me.”
A lump formed in Jan’s throat. “I wouldn’t allow it. Not by herself.” An irrational fear warned that, if forced to choose, the little girl might abandon her mom for daddy’s big house.
You’re letting anxiety get the better of your judgment. It had been clear from Kimmie’s comments she assumed the two adults could get along as housemates.
“Both of you, of course.” Zack thrust his hands into the pockets of his white coat. “And Gorilla, which I presume is the main point.”
“I did hear about that.” All evening and most of Sunday, her daughter had given Jan the hard sell. Taking no for an answer went against Kimmie’s nature.
“She wasn’t hurt that I said no, was she?” Zack went on. “She caught me off guard. I could have been more diplomatic.”
“Oh?” Jan hadn’t observed any signs of painful rejection in her daughter. Still, she would like to hear his side of the conversation. “What did you say?”
“I explained that my house is Berry’s home. She lost her mom. Now she’s found out I have another daughter, and it’s hard for her.” Zack blew out a short breath. “I didn’t mean to use Berry as an excuse. The last thing I want is to create more antagonism between those two.”
“Judging by her comments, you also mentioned the cats not getting along,” Jan recalled.
“Right.” He gave her a sideways grin. “I’m afraid I latched on to any argument that sprang to mind.”
“You feeling guilty? You shouldn’t.” In Jan’s opinion, moving in with Zack was not remotely feasible. Especially when he managed to be so appealing, with his green eyes glimmering apologetically.
“She did say...” A crease formed on his forehead. “‘Why can’t we live with you? You’re supposed to be my daddy, but you act like you’re just Berry’s daddy.’”
“Ouch.” Jan chuckled. “My daughter’s much too good at guilt manipulation.”
He grinned back. “You mean our daughter. I suppose I have to take my share of the blame.”
“Big of you.” She was laughing until she glimpsed movement behind him, just outside the office. Uh-oh.
Springing up, Jan ignored his puzzled expression as she rushed past him. In the outer office, Caroline Carter was settling herself behind her computer.
“What?” Zack swung around until Jan felt his warmth against her back.
They shouldn’t stand here in full view, like a pair of lovers. Even if that’s what they’d once been.
Half turning, she became keenly aware of his woodsy fragrance mixed with a trace of iodine-scented surgical scrub. Quickly, she put some distance between them. “Our secret is out.”
“Excuse me?” He appeared unaware of the minefield they’d stepped in just now.
“Our secretary was eavesdropping.” To be fair, she added, “Or she just happened to be in the right place at the wrong time for us.”
“What could she have heard?”
Jan recalled the most important detail. “You used the words our daughter.”
Zack glanced out, frowning, and Jan followed his gaze. The young woman was on the phone. An innocuous conversation from what she could hear, but louder than necessary. For our benefit, no doubt.
“Any chance she missed it?” Zack asked.
“She peeled off at supersonic speed. It’s lucky the boom didn’t knock us over.” Jan considered marching out and ordering Caroline to zip it. But on the far side of the reception area, Melissa’s door stood wide-open and Karen’s was also ajar. Plus Dr. Cole Rattigan’s office was next to Jan’s, within easy earshot. Openly rebuking the young woman would be like pouring oil on a fire. Warning her in private might keep the embers smoldering, though likely not for long.
“The best way to run damage control is to get ahead of the curve,” Jan told Zack. “Given that some people already know we were engaged, we might as well tell them you’re Kimmie’s dad. The staff who knew me in Boston probably suspect it already.”
“Too bad peo
ple don’t mind their own business.” His affable air shifted into coolness. “Still, you’re right. If we’re forthright, it’ll take some of the sting out of the gossip.”
“We don’t have to make a big deal of it.” Jan felt a touch of relief he’d agreed so readily.
“There’ll be questions, spoken or unspoken. I’d rather we addressed them than left people to speculate.”
Questions. Awkward ones. “I guess we have to tell them I kept Kimmie a secret all these years. It’s going to make me look bad.”
Although Zack might have relished payback, she saw no satisfaction on his face. “We should also tell them I signed the relinquishment paper. And I got engaged to another woman before Kimmie was born. No matter how I feel about what you did, that’s between you and me.”
If only he’d meet her gaze...but that was asking too much. “Thank you.”
“We have to protect the girls. It was bound to come out sooner or later.” Zack cast a disapproving glare in Caroline’s direction. “I’m on a tight schedule. Catch you later.”
“Later.”
Jan wished they had more time to get their balance before going public. Well, they couldn’t undo what was done.
If the metaphor hadn’t been so painful, she’d have said the cat was out of the bag.
Chapter Eleven
For the rest of Monday afternoon Jan passed the word along as casually as she could, aware the rumors might already have spread. “As you may have heard...” was how she phrased it to coworkers whose paths crossed hers.
“We all have our issues,” was Erica’s judicious response. The nurse had suffered through a painful divorce back in Boston. “Safe Harbor’s a good place for second chances.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Jan said. “How’re you feeling these days?”
With the baby due in a month, Erica had given up assisting at surgeries. Too much standing, and her bump got in the way. Although she claimed to enjoy reviewing charts and handling other desk jobs, Jan knew her friend chafed at the restriction. “I ache all over. Thank goodness my husband gives great back rubs.”
SH Medical 09 - The M.D.'s Secret Daughter Page 11